Confession: When “I” move “You” move……. JUST LIKE THAT!

Have you ever just sat and wondered where time has gone? Or, have you ever sat back and reminisced on those missed opportunities you know you should have taken? Maybe you’ve had thoughts like, “I wonder how much further along I’d be now,” or “what if this, and what if that!” Does any of this ring a bell? No??

If not those types of thoughts, what about these: “I should have known better,” “My momma told me not too go,” “Dang, how’d I even get here?” Does any of those ring a bell??

Many of us, often times, shuffle through our decisions and contemplate how things would have been for us, had we chosen differently. Especially, if the choice we did make, didn’t yield as favorable of results as we were promised, hoped for, or willed to happen. Sometimes, we even seek counsel to help us cope with the decisions we’ve made. Whether it was the decision not to go or do, when we knew we should have; or if it was the decision to go or do when we knew beyond a shadow of a doubt, we shouldn’t have.

In response to such moments, we counteract with phrases like “God does things for a reason!” or “If it was meant to be, then…” and countless other anecdotes. We do so to help soften the blow that we must come to terms with. There are many scriptures to back this up! However, that’s not always the case, when you are not aligned with the will of God. It is not the case either, when you move outside of God’s instructions, or you will an answer from God, that’s not His response. You might believe, He’s not speaking, but it might just be that you haven’t gotten close enough to hear Him clearly. You might wonder why, because you can’t see the “sense” in what He’s telling you to do, and choose to do otherwise. If you’re like me, then maybe you’re just unhappy with God’s final decision on a matter, or guidance to or from a matter, and you try to take matters into your own hands. You disagree with God. Therefore, you begin to orchestrate your plans and agendas to see to it, that things happen the way YOU want them to.

Oh beloved, what a mistake it is to move outside of the will and direction of the Holy Spirit!! Yes, for some matters and to some, there’s Grace. BUT……….. IT IS IMPERATIVE that we DESTROY the belief that God just doesn’t understand or know. We have to tear down the barriers we put in between God and ourselves. We have to settle within our hearts, this simple truth:

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are my ways your ways, saith the Lord. For as the Heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9

Another matter we have to settle, and not just quote is, God’s intention for us is well written and established. As recorded in Jeremiah 29:11, but let’s go a little before verse 11, and way deeper and beyond it as well. The KJV text reads:

“For thus saith the Lord, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place.¹¹ For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.¹² Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.¹³ And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.¹⁴ And I will be found of you, saith the Lord: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the Lord; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.” -Jeremiah 29:10-14.

Just recently, I was reading the book of Numbers. Admittedly, I’d been stuck between chapters seven, eight, and nine for the past 3 days. In all honesty, the book of Numbers, was one of the Old Testament writings I purposefully avoided. Without prior knowledge, I’d just assumed it to be, just a chronicle of names and dates, and many other things I deemed boring in the past. I had no thought back then, that in skipping over some books in the Bible, I was missing so much beautiful content and understandings. I felt led by the Holy Spirit to dive into it; and surprisingly, without hesitation I jumped right in.

There were quite a few revelations given to me within the first eight chapters, but I want to focus on the revelation I just received while reading chapter 9. Beginning at the eighteenth verse, of chapter nine, the text reads, as according to the Amplified Version:

¹⁸ “At the Lord’s command the Israelites would journey on, and at His command they would camp. ” That in itself, is enough to speak about but let’s sojourn on further! Verse nineteen reads, ¹⁹“Even when the cloud lingered over the tabernacle for many days, the Israelites would keep their obligation to the Lord and not set out.”

WOAH, that’ll PREACH!!!

When I first read this, it gripped me deeply. Not immediately so, but gradually I began to ponder over the moments, I knowingly disobeyed the voice of God, and refused to move or to sit still. As I recalled the many moments, I began to rejoice verbally and within my soul. I wasn’t happy because the moments, “didn’t break me,” although, that is enough to rejoice about. I began to rejoice because I was approaching a season, where I would have to make the same commitment.

The frustrations of my day to day life began to mount. Discontentment set in, and I was ready to resume old patterns. I wanted to just pick up and leave, as I’d always done. Yet, because of my son Micah, that was no longer as easy a task as before. I had to wait. I had to plan. I had to prepare. I had to be ready at all costs. The thought arose, “When I move, you move just like that.” That thought is actually a lyric from a song called, Stand Up by Ludacris.

I chuckled within myself because I could remember the times of dancing and so called “vibing” to the melody of this song. Then it hit me. The revelation began to pour in.

Let’s give a little background. After God led Moses into consecrating and cleansing the Levites to assist Aaron and his sons, in the work within the Tabernacle, we began to learn more about the people of Israel’s journey through the wilderness. Most people know that He (GOD) lead the people out, by a cloud (during the day) and a pillar of fire (at night). But, the emphasis on when to set out and when not to, wasn’t as heavily explained, in my informal teaching as a child. However, now I believe, when discussing what it means to be led by God via the Holy Spirit, we MUST address this.

After coming into salvation, by the believing in Jesus Christ as the Son of God, who was born of a virgin, came down to earth, and died an undeserved death to atone for our sins; we have access to the Holy Spirit through salvation. In fact, scripture refers to Him as a gift. Let’s read that, shall we?

Luke 11:9-13 reads (KJV):

⁹ And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.¹⁰ For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.¹¹ If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?¹² Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?¹³ If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

Initially my mind began to swarm with all the possible things the Holy Spirit was conveying to me. There was so much revelation pouring in simultaneously, I grabbed my pen, and began to journal my thoughts. As I type, coming to mind, I asked God, why this passage? His response was simple, and came many days following. He said,

“My people are trying to lead the Holy Spirit, instead of being led by the Spirit!”

Let that sink in for a moment….

Now ask yourself, have I been led or am I leading?

John 16:13 of the Amplified version says this,

“But when He, the Spirit of Truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth [full and complete truth]. For He will not speak on His own initiative, but He will speak whatever He hears [from the Father—the message regarding the Son], and He will disclose to you what is to come [in the future].”

There are so many “distractions,” “roads,” and “options” out here in this world that seek to steal our attention, affections, and will. It’s quite easy sometimes to give into the pressures of society, and forsake that which we know to be Truth. However, we must hold fast unto the Lord, and allow Him to direct us.

As John 14:12-18 records (KJV)”

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.¹³ And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.¹⁴ If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.¹⁵ If ye love me, keep my commandments.¹⁶ And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;¹⁷ Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.¹⁸ I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

Many of us have heard the song, Stand Up, by Ludacris. In that song, the intro goes, “When I move you move, just like that.” I don’t know much of the other lyrics, but this one excerpt that was spoken to me, clearly states God’s point. The same was true and biblical for the children of Israel. The passage in numbers, referenced above is literally conveying that very message. Only move when the Spirit of God is moving! Rest when the Spirit of God rests. It’s important to notice both aspects. Sometimes we get frustrated and exhausted, because our season of rest wasn’t complete. But due to impatience, a lack of faith, and not fully trusting God we move too soon. Then when we get beat down and are on our last leg, we don’t know why! Let’s look at the rest of the passage from Numbers chapter 9:

¹⁵ And on the day that the tabernacle was reared up the cloud covered the tabernacle, namely, the tent of the testimony: and at even there was upon the tabernacle as it were the appearance of fire, until the morning.¹⁶ So it was alway: the cloud covered it by day, and the appearance of fire by night.¹⁷ And when the cloud was taken up from the tabernacle, then after that the children of Israel journeyed: and in the place where the cloud abode, there the children of Israel pitched their tents.¹⁸ At the commandment of the Lord the children of Israel journeyed, and at the commandment of the Lord they pitched: as long as the cloud abode upon the tabernacle they rested in their tents.¹⁹ And when the cloud tarried long upon the tabernacle many days, then the children of Israel kept the charge of the Lord, and journeyed not.²⁰ And so it was, when the cloud was a few days upon the tabernacle; according to the commandment of the Lord they abode in their tents, and according to the commandment of the Lord they journeyed.²¹ And so it was, when the cloud abode from even unto the morning, and that the cloud was taken up in the morning, then they journeyed: whether it was by day or by night that the cloud was taken up, they journeyed.²² Or whether it were two days, or a month, or a year, that the cloud tarried upon the tabernacle, remaining thereon, the children of Israel abode in their tents, and journeyed not: but when it was taken up, they journeyed.²³ At the commandment of the Lord they rested in the tents, and at the commandment of the Lord they journeyed: they kept the charge of the Lord, at the commandment of the Lord by the hand of Moses.” (KJV)

No matter the length of time, no matter the conditions we are to follow the Spirit of God. We are to be led, knowing and trusting that the place in which God has prepared for us is all that He promised it’d be. Situationally speaking, whether it’s a job, a relationship, a church, or so forth what is God saying? Is His Spirit resting or has it lifted? Is it time to move on or should you stay put?

How do you even know when the Holy Spirit is present? Get to know Him. Learn of His ways. Learn of the ways in which God declares the Spirit is made available to us. Learn in what ways the Holy Spirit guides and shapes us. Scripture is full of fascinating details of the Holy Spirit. Search Him out, He will show up. He will reveal Himself to you, and when He does He will take the lead. It’s okay, take the passenger seat for a change. His direction is precise and spot on. He’s the ultimate GPS (God’s Personal Spirit) in this life. He knows how to navigate through anything. He knows how to keep you from and deliver you from the enemy. His work is exact. There are no mistakes.

Trust Him! Rely on Him! Get to know Him! YOU MUST…. there’s no other way!